The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-04-08

posted Col. Tuttle GEN. W. II. L. WALLACE.
with the Second, Seventh, Twelfth and
Fourteenth Iowa regiments on his right,
and Col. Sweeney with the Eighth Iowa,
Seventh, Fiftieth, Fifty-sccond, Fifty
seventh and Fifty-eighth Illinois regiments
on tho right Of Col. futile. Sweeney's
right reached tho edge of wide, deep
ravine filled with impenetrable thickets
extending far to his rear and running into
tho ravino OF Brier creek. Such was tho place
that became famous among the Confederates
as THE Hornets Nest"
The first assault made was by Gladden's
brigade; and now begin series OF some OF
Gen. GLADDEN. having been MORALLY wounded
in the charge OF the early morning, tho com
mand devolvcd on Col Adams The limo IL
barely formed at 10 o'clock, when the southern
men are seen confidently advancing through
the dense thickots against the unseen foe.
They are permitted to come well within range,
when suddenly there flashes from 5000 rifles
a blaze OF fire. The deep notes Of Hicken-
looper's guns mingle with the treble Of the
small arms that echoes through tho forest, and
tho gray canopy of smoke that rests above the
scene tells where death is being scattered on
every SIDE The we'll known ~rebel yell"
rings out as the column presses forward and
the ground Is dotted with the wounded and
dead. But the leaden storm beats in their faces
with fierceness that nothing human can with
stand, and the crippled brigade recoils to the
cover Of the woods. Gen. A. p Stewards COM
mand of Folks corps is now sent forward,
and once, twice, thrice, it repeats the grand
effort to carry the position, but with no bet
ter success than before. Gen. Gibson's
brigade of Braggs corps surges in and takes
its place. Again that hurricane Of lead. The
angry balls fly in showers and seem to bear
a death warrant in every devilish scrcech.
An enfilading fire from the battery cuts down
tho men by ranks, like swaths Of grass under
the mowers scythe, and yet others continue
to step into the path Of death with cheerful
alacrity, it seems, and fall with a battle cry
upon their lips. Three times has Gibson
charged, and three times been repulsed. Gen.
Bragg now impatiently directs one of his
stat, Col Lockett, his chief engineer, to ride
forward to a central regiment that has been
driven back and carry its colors to the1
'front.' "The flag must not go back agai1
dashes through the line Of battle, sci,
the colors from the color bearer, and exclain
"Gen. Bragg says these colors must mott
to the rear" While he is talking the col
sergeant is shot down. An officer approaches
with a bullet hole in each cheek, the blood
streaming from his mouth, and asks: "What
are you doing with my colorss, sirw I'm
obeying Gen. Bragg's orders to hold them
where they are" "Let me have therl," was
the reply; "if any man carries these colors
but the color bearer, I am the man. Tell
Gen. Bragg that will see that these colors
are in the right place. But he must attack
this position in flank; we can never carry it
alone from the front" The officer who spoke
commanded the Fourth Louisiana, and in |
stantly riding back to Gen. Bragg to empha-
size the previous request made for artillery |
by Gen. Gibson he was met with the stern |
answer: "Col. Allen, I want no faltering
now" Stung to the quick, he returned to his
and once more there was wild,
wave of men rolling up that fatal
slope only to be dashed to death. 1t was
splendid murder Col Allen afterward be-
came Governor Allen, of Louisiana. Such
were the kind of men whom Prentiss and
Wallace fought OH that eventful day from
in the morning until 5 o'clock in the after
noon before one was captured and the other
killed!
Finding that the position could not be car
ried by direct assault, Bragg now determined
on combined flank movement. First, all
the guns within reach were brought up and
on the one little battery, stand
ing at the salient point where Prentiss and
W allace Joined, that had reaped such a
harvest among the lines of the enemy. Be-
fore this terrible fire, Hickenlooper was COM
PEELED to withdraw. By 4:30 o'clock fight
ing in front Of Sherman and McClernand
having ceased, Gems Cheatham, Trabue,
johnson and Russell, seeing that Wallace
could not be approached across the dense
thicket filling the great ravine which pro-
tected his right, felt their way to the plateau
in his rear, where they met the combined
forces under Bragg in front Of Hurlbut's
camp. Moving thus against the remnants Of
the two divisions, they inclosed them almost
in circle; struggle ensued, but further re-
sistance was useless, and the brave Wallace
was mortally wounded; The Second and
their way out and reached Pittsburg Land
ing, but Prentiss, true to his orders from
cen. Grant, firmly remained at his post, and
shaving lost everything but honor sur
rendered his little band 1t comprised 1900
men. And so ended the famous fight in the
hornets nest.'"